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WEB POSTED 10-10-2000

 

 

March activities, program offer something for everyone

by Nisa Islam Muhammad
and Eric Ture Muhammad

WASHINGTON (FinalCall.com)�Plans continue to unfold for activities for families who make their way to the nation�s capitol October 16, to join the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan in his call for the revitalization of the institution.

The Million Family March (MFM) organizers are working at a feverish pace to provide for husbands, wives, newlyweds, children and elders. They believe it could be the largest, peaceful assembly ever to gather in U.S. history to promote change.

Beginning with MFM Scholar�s Symposium on Family (Oct. 11-13) at Howard University, presenters and experts on family and values from around the country will discuss a variety of issues such as, male-female relations, health, spiritual values, violence and empowerment of children.

The symposium, beginning at 8:30 a.m., will open with a welcome from Min. Farrakhan.

"We have an exciting event planned that will address the major issues facing our community and our speakers represent our best minds," said symposium co-chair Dr. Robert Hill. "Our theme is to empower families to overcome the challenges," he said.

Additional presenters and keynoters include Dr. Asa Hilliard, Dr. Francis Cress-Welsing, Iris Carlton-LaNay; Gary Mendez of the National Trust and Development of African American Men; Dorothy Benton Lewis, co-chair of the National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations (N�COBRA); Ron Walters, political science chair at the University of Maryland; Tricia Bent-Goodley of Howard University and Gus Smith, father of Kemba Smith, who due to the disparity in crack cocaine sentencing laws is serving 25 years to life in federal prison.

"We are honored to be asked by the Hon. Min. Farrakhan and Min. Benjamin F. Muhammad to help convene this most important conference of scholars on the Black family," said symposium co-chair Leonard Dunston. Mr. Dunston, along with Drs. Nancy Boyd-Franklin and Robert Hill have gathered some of the greatest minds in America for the conference, with the hope of producing a user-friendly booklet to be distributed at the march.

"Min. Farrakhan is a visionary in that he seeks to bring to the family table some of the best minds in respect to accentuating and highlighting the strengths of the Black family," Mr. Dunston concluded.

Other weekend events include:

� Friday, Oct. 13: Citywide Jummah Prayer Service.

� Saturday, Oct. 14: Interfaith Prayer Breakfast at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, 8 a.m.

� Saturday, Oct. 14: Political leaders from around the country will conduct a Political Issues and Public Policy Caucus at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, 1-3 p.m.

� Saturday, Oct. 14: Black tie "Celebration of Family Gala." It begins at 7 p.m. with a reception followed at 8 p.m. with a dinner featuring celebrity entertainment at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel. Tickets are $100, $250 and $500 each.

� Sunday, Oct: 15: "Million Family March Sunday," religious leaders are asked to use their pulpits to call for God-centered families.

March day activities

The Mall will be covered with 14 jumbo-sized television screens and the largest sound system built in the history of the country. The sound system, according to march organizers, is so strong that it will produce sound for an approximate two-mile radius. "If your cell phone is not digital it will not work on the property that day," said Min. Benjamin. "This is because the magnitude of the sound system produces its own magnetic field, knocking out analog systems," he said.

The jumbo screens will connect participants with the events on Stage One at the U.S. Capitol Building, Stage Two at the Lincoln Memorial and Stage Three at the Ellipse near the White House.

The "MFM Marketplace" of vendors will open from 6 a.m.-5 p.m.

The Oct. 16 program will start with a 5 a.m. call to prayer. From 6 a.m.-10 a.m., pre-program events will take place on three stages. At 10 a.m. the official program begins. The noon hour will feature the Sacred Marriage Ceremony of 10,000 new couples and the renewal of vows of married couples. Min. Farrakhan will conduct the ceremony.

Couples who still wish to register to be a part of the sacred ceremony should call (202) 291-1119, or register Oct. 16 on the Mall.

The day�s entertainment will feature such artists as Gladys Knight, Mary J. Blige, Erykah Badu, James Ingram, Stevie Wonder, Toni Braxton, Rev. Run of Run DMC, Macy Gray and more.

Children�s Village

At the Washington Monument a village will be erected with young people in mind. The village is being coordinated by Maria Farrakhan Muhammad, Martha Chavis-Muhammad, Rose Sanders and Barbara Newton, executive director of Jack and Jill.

"We are planning something very spectacular for the children. We want them to enjoy the MFM as well as the adults. Children are an important part of the family and we want them recognized as well with activities of their own," said Mrs. Muhammad. The Children�s Village is open from 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Activities include the UniverSoul Circus, jumping pavilions, games, clowns, balloon blowing,
face painting, story telling, and Internet technology.

"A special part of the day will be our mock voting booth where children can practice taking their parents to the polls to vote. We are very excited about this," explained Mrs. Newton.

For more information about the Million Family March visit the official web site at http://www.millionfamilymarch.com or call 202-291-1119.

 


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